Chapter Sixty-Seven: A Secret from Many Years Ago

After leaving Xiangyun Street, Yang Yuanzhen did not head for the Eastern City, but returned directly to the Southern City. Now that the fighting in the Eastern City was over, going back would be pointless. With Xu Wenwu dead and Ouyang Xin's forceful return, the situation was about to change rapidly. If not handled well, the Yang family could be in for a major upheaval.

Upon his return to the Yang estate, Yang Yuanzhen strode quickly to a secluded house deep within the manor. This house was situated in the most remote corner of the Yang estate, its interior shrouded in gloom. When the door opened, a sliver of light shone in through the gap, illuminating the room where only a single candle flickered weakly.

Entering, Yang Yuanzhen closed the door. Inside, a man was kneeling motionless before the wall. At the sound of the door, the man stirred.

“Father, is that you?” the man spoke—it was Yang Hai.

“I ordered you to reflect here in seclusion. How goes your repentance?” Yang Yuanzhen asked coolly from where he stood.

“I’ve thought it through. It’s only because that bastard Yang Ze, through some unknown fortune, has advanced so rapidly. You believe I haven’t worked hard enough, so you confined me here, hoping I wouldn’t become disheartened but would train even harder. Rest assured, Father, these three months I haven’t slacked off. I’ve been diligently cultivating, and soon my Heart of the Sea Technique will reach the third level. By then, I’ll break through to the middle stage of Qi Drawing…” Yang Hai spoke with excitement, oblivious to the deepening scowl on Yang Yuanzhen’s face.

Before he could finish, Yang Yuanzhen stepped forward in a few strides, seized Yang Hai, and slapped him across the face.

“I had you reflect here for three months, and this is all you’ve come up with? Do you hate your brother so much?” he shouted.

Yang Hai, clutching his stinging cheek, looked shocked, unable to grasp why his father had struck him. He stammered, “Father, he’s nothing but a bastard—”

Before the words left his lips, Yang Yuanzhen slapped him again, this time on the other cheek.

“Enough! I will not permit you to speak of your brother that way!” Yang Yuanzhen thundered.

“Father, today you struck me twice for Yang Ze. Clearly, in your heart, you never treated him as one of our own. You made him move out of the main residence, kept him away from family affairs, sent him to the Northern City—you never wanted him near the family’s core. So why confine me for three months over him?” Yang Hai roared in frustration.

“I did it for his own good. He doesn’t belong in the Yang family, and sending him away is the best arrangement for him. But you—your actions lately make me question whether you can bear the responsibility I’ve entrusted to you. First, you sent someone to assassinate your brother; the killer was after his life, yet you claimed you only wanted him crippled! Then you spread rumors against him within the family. Can you not tolerate his existence? I even gave you the Academy’s quota—what more do you want?” Yang Yuanzhen’s voice trembled with disappointment.

“Father, I just don’t want an outsider dividing our property. He has no right to anything here; he’s not even—”

Yang Yuanzhen struck him once more.

“I warned you from the start never to speak of this again. Yet today you’ve repeated it over and over. I am truly disappointed in you. Listen carefully: Ouyang Xin, the chief constable, has returned after reaching the Postnatal Realm. The Muyang Martial Academy is our family’s last hope. If you pass the entrance trials and enter the Academy, the Yang family will be tied to it and our foundation preserved. If you fail, the authorities will most certainly come for us. Can you grasp the weight of your responsibility? Yang Ze is more talented and stronger than you, yet because you are my son, I gave you the quota without hesitation. You now bear the hope of the entire family. Do not let me down!

If your vision remains so narrow, fixated on petty rivalry, I must begin to doubt your abilities. Enough. I have said all I can. Whether you understand or not is up to you.”

With a weary shake of his head, Yang Yuanzhen turned and left, leaving Yang Hai alone, dazed and disheartened on the floor.

…

“Old Xie, what are you saying? You’re standing right before me—how could I not see you?” Yang Ze sensed something was amiss in Old Xie’s words.

“Young master, I realize now that if I don’t speak, I may never have another chance. I was lucky to escape with my life this time, but what about next time? Who’s to say I’ll be so fortunate again? So I want to share a secret I’ve kept for many years,” Old Xie said gravely.

Yang Ze’s expression shifted. “Old Xie, what are you hiding? Speak plainly—no need for all this beating around the bush.”

Old Xie looked long and hard at Yang Ze, drew a deep breath, paused, and then began, “Let me tell you a story, young master.

Twenty-five years ago, in a declining family on the martial scene, two brothers emerged. Both were formidable, quickly earning a name for themselves and vowing to restore the family’s honor. During their family’s fall, many in the martial world seized treasures from their clan. Seeing the two brothers rise from ruin and return to the world, those same rivals determined to eliminate them once and for all.

But the brothers were no fools. In just a few years, they both reached the middle stage of Qi Drawing and forged many alliances, hoping to restore their house with outside help. Yet fate was cruel. Fifteen years ago, just as they sought to raise their family’s banner once more, all their old enemies assembled. Fearing retribution should the family rise again, these martial figures made a decision: they would gather their strength and kill the brothers.

Thus, fifteen years ago, a great battle erupted in the martial world—a battle so fierce it would be remembered in Yuyang for generations to come.”